The scam was unearthed after a video showing brides at the event garlanding themselves went viral on social media. Visuals also show some men dressed as grooms hiding their faces.
15 people, including two government officials, have been arrested in Uttar Pradesh for their alleged involvement in a massive wedding fraud.
The scam was unearthed after a video showing brides at a mass wedding event garlanding themselves went viral on social media. Visuals also show some men dressed as grooms hiding their faces.
The community wedding was held on January 25 in the Balia district of Uttar Pradesh.
Officials say about 568 couples got married at the event, however, later it was found that several were paid to pose as brides and grooms.
A local alleged that both men and women were paid between ₹ 500 and ₹ 2,000 for posing as brides and grooms. “Some Women had no one. They were wearing the varmala (garland) themselves. We came to know that people are being paid between ₹ 500 to ₹ 2,000,” Vimal Kumar Pathak said.
A 19-year-old man told NDTV that he was offered money to pose as a groom. “I went there to see the wedding. They made me sit there. They said that they will give me money. Many were being made to sit,” said Raj Kumar.
BJP MLA Ketki Singh was the Chief Guest at the community wedding.
On being asked about the involvement of the government officials in the alleged fraud, MS Singh said, “They informed me just two days before the event. I had suspected there was something fishy. But now a complete investigation is being done” she said.